Spring construction for furniture



Dec. 11, 1928.

9 1,694,995 J. R. THOMAS SPRING CONSTRUCTION FOR FURNITURE Filed April 14, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec 11, 1928. 1,694,995 Y I J. R. THOMAS SPRING CONSTRUCTION FOR FURNITURE Filed April 14, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 11, 1928.

J. R. THOMAS SPRING CONSTRUCTION FOR FURNITURE 3 Sheets-Shefl Filed A 'rir14, 192v Patented Dec. U- T TATES 'JosErg a" HQMAS; OF FOM MADISON; IOWA spring c( nstructionsv {gri -name, for example as davenpbrts, beds (both dbu lble and single) sofas, chair s-iridihe likeyhziv ing for an objeefcje provide ehafraiig'ement' of springs. which will e fl'ei'fd a. resilien "y' ofn axiinui ngdepth ahdtwhefeiii the advahfieges' ofapcoiled spi'ingsuppert will behedg'hence; E lending materially. "te ith'e eemfort' available" throughrusage Of fuiniturebfthis p' z' rtieiilafr 1 character.

, It is: also; n object of theihventidiiid'pro- 'vide a Spring constru'etieii Wheifein'thesprings are so arranged relatively fc"o iiineriztfed 'thatv they will be causeditlo .fiin'etioh 1h ig'roups oi sections and jtheiehywillpreventihalshz plhg 0f theushioh oii-pfild qijetli er device re'e'elvi ig the, same, likewise," wilL'preVent relative d ispie-cementof; the, sprin s, censeq iently, '1n- ,1 2O creasing 'the diir ability ofthe c'enstiiuetip i.

The invention also fineludes ameng'tiits d-esiderete, the provision of a spring construe-f tionbf the character mentioned wherein the" main body and s1ibs1d1afy Sections are m eluded, the subsidieryisec tions funetioning to ,used as a se mswhereas; hetjhhtheihajin, bbdy 1 and said subsidiary seetilohs 'a i utilized when the device 'isused as a bedyp'itoiildmg this latter achipblon, a maximum sphng support-' ing area. I

i .i 1 Qther ehjeetsiof the, m nhon W111 b'e'm J P n i he m1 hayei-n swamp-s ying skiih lowing cieseripfi on based th "'Of'n', isetIOutoneVpossihieemb odii ent of thei ventieii.

Figui egl is gimvei ice cizwenpoi t iii open position ei ebnve' tejd for usage bed f U Eigu -i'efiis en el larged hegm iimr 'depail :in perspeetiye, ,havingiperits ithi enf fbit'iken of :the spring -i cluded by he fm i bi dy hi -=subsidiary,sectio is,7,:,,

Eigkil'e is 51.11. enlegged ,ary .deiiail sprin most secf/lom :ti phvioi s and in artpeifitedib ihhei ein ogie' cf 7 i opera v i011; may be reedily under toed bythijse j he detailed fol -14; 1&321. serial 133,796. 1 e r Figuf'e is mew ms mn efthepi rf;

'n'ec i; 1 with the f swingable angi'nb 'meillyhp per spii g construction,

'uppei eifpiitel spring constructiofi, i

Figure? 'secti onithi'ough thesa'me, and V s 1 'F1gu 'e8 is a fifagi'nentarydeteil, pejftly'in elevation 'sh WiIig slightly "modified "@611 means for iise in connection Withthe normally upper spring c onstru cti'ojn.

w n a' i m q astersstzfefereneewiil'designatecdrres Figure-6 isa top'pi' en 'view bfthe normally Having niore 'p rtieule efere rce to the we 9 1* in parts throughout; j'l' gel erallyfiiii-("1idat is an enleirged' vei tieal fialis vei se the 1 back there substantially ect ngular iiiconfigilfzitifon and The spring-Carrying siectidnfQ 'jc eln'sist s of a heiviiigebliquely jdispesed sides 4' and; eheend I arr ngement Of the bedy ppi'fien in its'norare fo'iiiied integi iil withi the opposite exa 1112111 horizontal pesitien, the fi tfitened and end biizufd 01 panel 7 eenfiieered theiietn'.

thirdug'h screws "91* similar: fastening. devices bearings 11 fixed th ereiipo'ri and egmental Bearing 'b'r'a-cken plates 9" are secured off menew and innit wnrewnamb d otally supported with respect to thedavenport 1. Also, longitudinally disposed slots outer faces ofthe widened intermediate pors tions 14 and such rollers are adapted to be engaged with and over the segmental bearing strips 12, whereby with pivotalmovement of the body portion with respect to the opposite sides of the davenport 1, a longitudinal movement will be imparted to the connecting arms 16, the purpose ofwhich will be subsequently described.

A frame of substantially rectangular configuration, designated the numeral 18 is received Within the normally upper portion of the body portion, it being noted in this connection that :one end of the frame is adjacent to the inner marginal portion of the widened and flattened end and is substantially flush therewith. A plurality of coiled springs generally indicated by the numeral 19 are connected through suitable tie rods 20 y and at regularly spaced intervals throughout the frame 18, while suitable upholstery 21 is arranged over the normally outer side of the a frame 18 for obvious purposes.

A second and larger rectangular frame 22 is provided this section 2 and as will be noted upon reference to the Figures 3 and 4, this frame is connected to the adjacent ends of the various coiled springs 19 through the medium of appropriately arranged tie rods 23 having connection at their opposite ends with adjacent portions of said frame 22.

Other coiled springs 24 are connected at their basal portions to the frame 22 through the medium of tie rods 23 and the opposite extremities of the springs are connected by suitable clamps or connecting means 25 to the adjacent side of the flattened and widened end 5 of the body portion; it being noted in this connection that the springs 24 are staggererd in their transverse disposition with respect to the aforementioned springs 19.

A plurality of longitudinally disposed rods 7 26 are provided the section 2, the normally forward ends of said rods being pivoted at 27 to the normally upper end of the panel 7, as is shown in the Figures 3 and 6, these rods 26 being disposed obliquely and in approximate parallelism to the obliquely disposed opposite sides 1 of the body ortion, aforesaid; the free ends of said rots bein connected through suitable devices 28 to adjacent ends of the spring engagingframe 18, whereupon they are provided with integral right angularly formed extensions or arms 29, the extremitiesof which are arranged in substantially parallelism to the normally under side of the flattened and widened end 5 and in perpendicularly spaced relation thereto, as is clearly shown in the Figure 4. Auxiliary springs 30 are arranged between the said parallel extremities of the angular extensions 29 and the adjacent portions of said end 5, thus serving as means for effecting a yieldable connection as between the rods 26 and said end 5 of the body portion of the section 2.

That collective movement and an even diffusion of stresses directed onto the upholstery 21 may be effected through the springs 19, those portions of each of the rods 26 adjacent the springs 19 are connected to the'same through clips or similar means 31.

A shaft 32 is mounted insuitable bearings provided therefor in portions of the arms (3 and is arranged adjacentthe normally under side of the flattened and widened end 5, said shaft carrying a plurality of relatively fixed curved fingers 33 adapted, at times, to be engaged with adjacent portions of the extensions 29; the oppositeends of said shaft 33 being formed with crank-like extensions 34 having pivotal connection with the adjacent ends of the connecting arms 16, hereinbefore described.

The section 3 may be stated to comprise a body portion 35 formed of scrap metal or other suitable, material having arms 36 integral with certain of the ends thereof in order that a pivotal connection as at 37 may be effected between the two sections 2 and 3; coiled spring carrying frames being provided said body portion 35, between which a plurality of relatively spaced coiled springs 38 are connected.

a Supporting legs 39 are pivotally connected to those ends of the body portion 5 opposite the arms 36 and these legs are adapted to be automatically moved from inoperative to operative positions, as is shown in the Figure 2, through the medium of connecting rods 40 son and suitable motion transmitting means, not

shown herein.

A foldable pad or mattress 41 is of course provided the sections 2 and 3 and with conversion of'the davenport into a bed, is adapted to be arranged in the manner shown in the Fi ire 2. y

In t e Figure 8, I have shown a slightly modified form of means for transmitting rotary motion to the shaft 32, engaging crank like extensions 42 with the o posite extremities of said shaft, While the rec ends of said crank like extensions are pivotally engaged by rods 43 arranged adjacent the normally outer sides of the arms .6 of the section 2. Segmental slots or we s 44 areformed in the freeextremities o the arms 36 of the section 3, which as will be borne in mind, are pivotally connected to the arms 6 as at 37 and-the adjacent ends' -ofsaid rods- 43 are formed with "angular extensionsslidably' 'en-'" gaged in 'said'sl otsorways 44; Thus, with;

pivotal movement as between the arms B and 36, a rectilinear "movementwill, be limpartedi to eachof the rods 43 and iconsequ'entlythereiuponythe shaft 32 will:be-rOtated"or'partially rotated. I

same into a bed, the superimposedsections" 2'and 3,- as' is shown in"the Figurelarerotat'edby reason of the rotatable engagement ofthe pintl'es 18 iipon"the opposite sides of "the body portion of the section 2; The -sec-; tions' 2"and3 are rotatedv until the panel-or 7 end board? assume that-position as is'shown in the-Figure '2', whereupon"the section 3 is swung outwardlyfrorrithe section2 by 'reason of the" pivotal connection 37 between the? arms 6 and 36, to* thatspesitien gas is also shown in the ,Figure 2, whe'reupon 'theFsup- [porting legs'39 of 'these'ction 3 Will be auto: inatically inov'ed toi their o erative or sups fporting-fpositionss With pivotal movement ofthesec'tion2, itwill 'be understood that a rectilinear or l'ongitudina'l movement will '26- and' the flattened and widened end 5 0i 7 the body portioniof said section 2, said. eX- tensions 29will be prevented fromcontacting be impartedto the connecting arms 16 or rods 43, therebyv rocking the'shaft 32an'd causing inwardswinging "movement of 'th'e curved" fingers 33 intoenga'gement withthe free'en'ds of the-right angulaisl-y'formed extensiensfae rupon the connecting rods 26; "I nthis Way, the auxili'ary springs will be compressed i and consequently thereuptn, the-might angularly formed extensiona .29 will be brought into' 'fixed enga ement With the flattened and r widened end 5 of the body portion of: said section-2;hence,preventing objectionable 1 vi-;

brator'y movement of said extensions and'the clanging of the sanieupon-jsaid flattened and widened end 5 with th'e application of weight or stress to the-springs 19. I

' ."With arrangement ofthe section 2-in the position as shown in the' Figure 2, Y it will :be I understood that"a resil'ient supporting .me- I dium will -b'e 'providedfor theunattressor-pad? 41 engaged thereover, inithat'the spring 'en-a gaging "frame'=22 will transmit and evenly-- diifuse such stresses as mightbe applied thereto throughout the springs :19 and 24;it being noted that the springs :24 have certain of-their ends connected to said frame 22anditheir opposite ends connected to the flattened and widened end 5 o'fthebody portion. Also, as hereinbefore stated, because of the fact engaged With the tie rods 2010f. the spring frame 18 and the latteris fixedly connected to the flattened and widened end 5,of the body portion 2 of said section when the bed is opened, an effectual supporting means Will be afforded said springs 19, whereby to permit the same to effectually function.

' When the davenport is used as a seat','that outer endsof the sections 2 andfi'whereas the obliquely arranged and diagonally disposed connecting rods 26 will serve as a means tor evenly distributing stresses applied to the v e e 1 seat throughout the spring construction. In operation of "my improved davenportw construction when it'is desired-to {convertthebetween theintermediate portions ofthe connectingirods 26vand the adjacent springs 19, 7

Furthermore, itwillbe understood and apprecia'ted that because of the connections as those portions of such'springs above their respective tie'rods 26 will function toresilien'tly absorb minor or lesser or stresses imparted thereto, While withtransmission of major fisfit is arranged inf'that "form' a's is shown in the SFigure- 1, it willibe understood that the panel 7 will serve as a closure for the now wise of the section 'Siarranged immediately therebelow. Furthermore,;it willfbe understood i'that because of the, interpositioning of the auxiliary springs 30 between; the'right angula'rl y formed-extensions -29, of therods ithftheend 5 and producing annoying'noise.

,Mani-festly, the construction shown is ca I pable of considerable,niodification and such modification as is within the scopegof. my

p m consider-within :the spirit ofmy, inventlong I I v a:

Iclaimaf 1. In a-davenport, aplurality oi pivotally connected spring .carrying sections, adapted to be arranged superposed relation, "at, t mes, one oi sa d sections comprising a substantially'rectangular body portion, bearing means-Von the. intermediate portions of the sides thereof for ,pivotally supporting the Isamenpon'the davenport, a panel fixed to one,

end of :the body" portion, a, coiled spring engaging rra ne vrece ved within the ,body

e'dto' thej free end of said body portion, a i I plurality oflongitudinalrods pivoted to the panel and connected to portions of cer tainof the coiled springs; each ofv said -,rods having angular extensions on their free that the opposite ends of'the springs 19 are ends disposed in proximity to the free-end of thebody portion, auxiliary springs arranged 7 between said extensions and said free end, and means engageable with said auxiliary, sprlngs for automatically compressing the same, upon pivotal movement of said sections. 1

to be arranged in superposed relation, at times, one of said sections comprising a substantially rectangular body portion having obliquel disposed opposite sides and one on thereof eing flattened and widened, bearing,

body portion arranged flush with the flattened and widened end thereof, another frame connected to the opposite ends of the coiled springs, certain of the coiled springs being connected to saidflattened and widened end of the body portion and arranged in stagrelation gered relation with respect to the remaining springs, a plurality of longitudinal rods piv oted to the panel and connected to portions of certain of the coiled springs, each of said rods having angular extensions on their free ends disposed in proximity to the flattened and widened end of the body portion, auxiliary springs arranged between said extensions and flattened and widened end, and means engageable with said auxiliary springs for automatically compressing the same upon pivotal movement of said body portions 3. In a davenport, a plurality of pivotally connected spring carrying sections, adapted to be arranged in superposed relation, at times, one of said sections comprising a substantially rectangular body portion having obliquely disposed opposite sides and a widened and flattened end, bearing means on the intermediate portions of the obliquely disposed sides for pivotally supporting the body portion upon the davenport, a panel fixed to one end of the body portion, a coiled spring engaging frame received within the body portion and arranged flush with the flattened and widened end, another frame connected to the opposite ends of the coiled springs, certain of the coiled springs being connected to said flattened and widened end of the body portion and arranged in transversely staggered with respect to the remaining springs, a plurality of longitudinal rods p1voted to said panel and extended into prox mity to the opposite end of said body portion,

the intermediate portions of said rods being connected to portions of certain of the coiled springs, each of said rods having right angularlv formed GXtGHSIOIIS on those ends 1n proximity to the flattened and widened. end ofthebody portion, auxiliary springs interposed between said right angular extensions and said flattened and widened end of the body portion, the intermediate portions of theopposite sides of the body portion having slots formed therein, connecting arms having slidable engagement with said slots, a shaft mounted adjacent to and disposed longitudinally of said flattened and widened endof the body portion having crank like extensions on its opposite ends, the free ends of said connect ng arms being engaged with said crank like extensions, and means upon the davenport engageable with said connecting arms for transmitting rectilinear; motion thereto with pivotal movement of the body portion whereby said shaft will be oscillated v and said rods moved upon their pivotal con nections for compressing said auxiliary sprin s substantially as and for the'purpose speci ed. p i y a 4. In a davenport, a plurality of pivotally connected spring carrying sections adapted to be arranged in superposed relation, at times, one of said sections comprisin a substantially rectangular body portion, caring means on the intermediate portions of the sides thereof for pivotally supporting the same upon the davenport, a panel fixed to one end of the body portion,.a coiled :spring engaging frame received within the body portion having one end inwardl of and adjacent the free end of 'said he y portion, another frame connected to the opposite ends of the coiled springs, certain of y the coiled springs beingconnected to the free end of said body portion and arrangedin relatively transverse staggered relation with respect to the remaining springs, a plurality of longi- JOSEPH R."IHOMAS. 

